
![]() ·How do the concepts of luck and coincidence relate to one’s destiny? Are these instances of the universe working with you towards your goal or simply chance events?
Brennen Diaz
5/13/2013 02:27:45 pm
I do not believe in coincindences, but I do believe in luck. That being said I do not believe that everything happens for a reason. Then God already has a plan and we are just following what he wants instead of what we make of our own life. Nontheless, I believe the world does show us paths and it is up to us whether we want to follow certain ones or not. Meaning, we make our own destiny and luck and special happenings do occur that make us stratch our heads. It would be nice to think that the whole universe is helping us. LIfe is what you make of it and if the Personal Legends are real and we all are connected with the Soul of the World; we have to find it ourselves. Remember, omens we have to interpret ourselves, we do not get to stones named after elements. Our Personal Legends consist of only us. I really do not know what the world has in store for me, but it is up to me whether I want to achieve any goal or success.
Shayne Fitol
5/15/2013 12:34:49 am
I feel the same way about coincidences and luck. I also agree that God does not necessarily have everything already mapped out for us. It would be pretty cool if Personal Legends and the Soul of the World really did exist like they do in the book, and the whole universe really was conspiring to help you achieve your goals.
Dan K
5/15/2013 12:56:27 am
I do believe that you are in control of your own success like you said, but I feel like there is set obstacles waiting for you in anything you do. You do have the option to choose your own destiny, but some of the obstacles that you face to get there are always going to be there when trying to achieve it.
Ally Caple
5/15/2013 09:51:20 am
I do believe that we're given obstacles no matter what happens, but like you said, it's up to us to make a choice about how to react to them. Either we can look at situations as something terrible and ignore them, or we can look at the positive and learn from it.
Danielle O
5/15/2013 12:59:13 pm
I agree about the coincidences, I also do not believe in them, nor do I believe that everything happens for a reason. It'd be nice if Personal Legends were true or if we had dope stones to show us omens too. Overall good response.
Jackie
5/15/2013 01:18:18 pm
I can agree that you are in control of what your destiny is. That's why free will is such a beautiful thing. But like you said it is nice to think the universe is on your side
Kaitlyn Twombly
5/15/2013 01:56:08 pm
This is a great post and I agree with a great portion of it. I like the way you worded your ideas about how the world does show us paths, but we ultimately make our own destiny.
Dan K
5/15/2013 01:12:23 am
When talking about a personal legend and what you want to do with your life, it is definently your own decision to choose what you want to do. I feel like there can't be a set plan for you because so many different things affect the way that you choose that there couldn't be a set plan. With that being said, coincidences happen quite often. When one person is following there own personal legend they might happen to interchange or help you with yours while trying to achieve your own. Like in The Alchemist, when Santiago meets the crystal seller, he needed money to get his sheep back and was almost told no. The store keeper had no intention of having him work there because he didn't need him, but coincidentally three people happened to walk in there as soon as he came. This coinicidence helped all of them, but if it didn't happen this way then Santiago wouldn't have been able to learn from the store keeper. I feel like there is no such thing as luck. It is improbable that anyone can just get lucky. I have simple reasoning behind this. When someone does something lucky, it is more of just something they did, where it percisely happened to work out in their favor. For example, when someone plays a carnival game like throwing the rings on to the many bottle tops, it is not luck no matter how you get it because whether or not you threw it well it followed a set rule of gravity and motion that was put into it that made it happen the way it did. Most of the time i can classify luck as coinicidence. Like when someone drops like a glass cup and it doesn't break because it was stowed by a table and then hit ever so perfectly that it missed the hardware floor and landed on carpet. Many people would say that was so lucky, but to me it percisely follows the way you drop it. I know that you can say it was lucky that it did not land on the carpet, but in reality if you dropped it ever so slightly different it could have changed. People consider luck and what just happens to work out in there favor the same thing and they call it luck. I hate when people call things I do lucky, espicially because I try to work hard at everything I do, and if something happens to benefit or help me that I didn't plan on then they call it lucky.
Kaitlyn C
5/16/2013 12:30:08 pm
I agree with what you said about luck, and how that and coincidence are different. I think that what you do with your life is a combination of what you try to accomplish, and what coincidental opportunities or obstacles you encounter.
Ally Caple
5/15/2013 09:45:37 am
People's responses to this topic definitely depend on how spiritual or religious they are. For me, I've always believed that everything happens for a reason. I think each person has a destiny laid out for them, whether they believe it or not. We're all here for something, and everything that happens- no matter how bizarre- all work together to get us to the ending point of our lives. But some people are just ultimately "lucky." Everyone knows at least one person that they consider lucky; this person might be incredibly intelligent or wealthy, and to outsiders, it seems as though everything always happens in their favor. But what people don't see are the events that happen in these so-called "lucky" people's lives that wouldn't be considered lucky. Good and bad things happen to everyone- that's just how life works. But the difference between people is how they react to a series of events. People who take advantage of all events- including bad ones- are the ones that learn the most. These people are the ones who get the farthest in a lifetime, and these people are the ones who reach and satisfy their personal legends. 5/15/2013 02:27:59 pm
Ally, I completely agree with those last few sentences. In life, both bad and good things will come, but it all depends on people's reactions to whether they can suffer from it or grow from it. All hardships in life teach us a lesson. It may hurt now, but see how much of a better person you can be from it.
Haley Krivensky
5/15/2013 02:49:08 pm
I agree with you about the lucky people we know. I definitely know a few people who I think were just born lucky. Maybe it's just the way I look at it or how they handle it but it seems more than just a coincidence.
Christina M
5/17/2013 11:57:59 am
Ally, I loved your post. Everything that you said I agree with a hundred percent. I am a firm believer in the saying "everything happens for a reason." I also agree with you when you said "I think each person has a destiny laid out for them." Great job!
Bridget Borowy
5/17/2013 04:16:29 pm
Wow, I really love the strong ending there. I agree, everything comes down to the individuals response to such things. Being lucky is great, but the bad in our lives is necessary to learn from in order to make our way towards our personal legends, just as Santiago had.
Meghan Giannettino
5/15/2013 10:15:23 am
In the Alchemist the King talks about beginners luck; that everyone receives luck on their first try on their journey to their personal legend. In my experience I believe you do have beginners luck. For me when I applied for the first time for my job, I got a call right away. Working at a daycare which will help in the future to gain closer to my personal legend of teaching and inspiring young children. I never really given the thought that a coincidence could be a part of your destiny, but if you think about it, it does make seance. Coincidences maybe omens that we are just not reading or over looking what the mean. Coincidences for the most part work out in our best interest. As I read more of the book I've realized that so far the universe is working with me towards my goal. My college choice and my job is a big part of helping me to where I hope I'm going to be in the future. So many signs point towards my direction, that I can not believe that the universe is leading me to my personal legend. I always had a hunch that everyone has a destiny , but reading this book just motivates me more to archive my personal legend even more so, than before.
Brennen Diaz
5/15/2013 11:51:44 am
Good point Dan about the coincidences part. Referring to the book The Alchemist to back up your claim. There was no set plan for the three of these guys to run into one another. It just happened by choice and chance.
Michaela
5/15/2013 12:53:48 pm
I do not believe in coincidence, luck, or chance. You have one shot at everything, and that's the outcome. There are no redo's or second tries.
Katheryn
5/16/2013 12:06:58 pm
I love your points about its all about your attitude but I think that sometimes luck, coincidence, or change does have a part to play.
Danielle O'Banner
5/15/2013 12:55:03 pm
I do not believe in coincidence or luck. I believe that everything that happens to a person is just a result of their own actions. Although we usually have a tendency to attribute the good things that happen to us to the universe working in our favor, that just isn't true. For example: When I don't do my homework and El Bakes happens not to be in class that isn't luck or coincidence because the universe didn't go out of its way to help me get out of my homework, she just happened to have a meeting that day. (Btw that’s never actually happened I always do my work obvi) It's probably best that I mention that I don't believe in fate, destiny or anything even related to that. If you really want to be an artist it isn't your fate because it's not predetermined that you'll be an artist just because you want to be one. In order to accomplish the goals and dreams you set for yourself you have to work hard to get there, you can't just not try and say well I don't have to try because I'm destined to be an artist, that's not how the world works. And as much as I'd like to think that, I just cannot. There have been countless times where I've been in New York or any other place filled with tourists where people play their instruments in the subways for any sort of money they can scrape up. I bet they thought it was their destiny to be a musician, but I also bet they didn't think that being a musician included them being poor and living off of the money that is thrown at them.
Maria Castelot
5/16/2013 12:28:13 pm
this is exactly what i believe in too! I was reading everyone's response and thought i was the only one who didn't believe in luck or coincidence. good to know I'm not the only one!
Jackie Ortiz
5/15/2013 01:16:25 pm
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Also that there is a lesson in every hardship. And always another opportunity. I don't think luck has anything to do with one's success and anything you want to do is obtainable if you're willing to do the work. Therefore, I don't think coincidence or luck has anything to do with a person's destiny. It is nice to define yourself as lucky but really how does one not believe someone or something has a plan for them? I like to think I have a great destiny and I'm on the right path of achieving it. I don't know what it is but I will not see things as coincidence but as lessons. And evanually I will be where I need to be doing is exactly what is right for me.
Kyle Blake
5/16/2013 08:36:17 am
Everything does happen for a reason and I think you make your own luck throughout life.
Kristina Lacasse
5/16/2013 11:11:25 am
I agree with your statement that hard work leads to the result that destiny is supposed to provide. We learn from the hardships.
Richard Katrenya
5/16/2013 02:51:31 pm
Just to be devil's advocate, I don't believe that things happen for a reason. Who is to decide who lives or who dies? Who is it to decide if someone where to get in a tragic accident or not.
Victoria Marino
5/16/2013 03:52:55 pm
I agree completely with you Jackie. I have and will always believe that everything happens for a reason. I also agree that you have to work for what you want, it's not luck
Kaitlyn Twombly
5/15/2013 01:53:23 pm
I do believe that throughout one's life journey, they will encounter luck and coincidence. I think this actually happens quite often, and it is a part of life to periodically get lucky or have a coincidental event occur. With that being said, I do not really believe that life is all planned out and eventually you will be led to where you were meant to be. You chose your path, nothing or no one else does. Coincidence and luck may occur, but I just think that they are chance events. Just like if hardship occurs, that is another chance event. Nothing is planned out. It is more so how you deal with these chance events that will lead you somewhere, not exactly to somewhere you were meant to be all along. I don't think it is really possible that the universe can work towards your benefit. If it does, it is a coincidence and can be labeled as luck. But like I already stated, a person will experience luck and hardship throughout their entire life. They are chance events that are not planned out to lead you to your destiny's finish line. They are chance events that will test you and lead you to your own destiny, created by yourself according to the way you react to these chance events.
Rob Costigan
5/15/2013 02:01:42 pm
One of the great sayings that I'm sure many of you in class have heard me say is "everything happens for a reason." It truly does. A lot of people don't believe it, because they say it doesn't make a lot of sense or that they are in denial if something happened to them. The thing is it's not magic, or luck, or coincidence; it's all life lessons, that lead to your personal legend. Many people believe that they should be able to perform at a high level at anything they do without practice, and if they cannot, then they give up. But today I watched a documentary about Nick Vujicic, a man with no arms or legs; just one appendage that is barely accepted as a foot. His greatest message was that he didn't see it as a disability. He didn't let it hinder the way he lived his life. He said the hardest thing wasn't falling or failing; it was getting back up. He said with no failure, you won't appreciate success. He looks at his life with the glass half-full, not half-empty. He doesn't feel melancholy about the things he doesn't have; he feels joy for the things he does have. Just like all of us, he can swim and even play certain sports. All these things that happened in his life were all meant to happen. I believe he was sent to this planet, with no arms and legs, to prove everyone that anything is possible. If you want it, you will be patient with it; if you don't, you weren't meant to have it. One of the messages that really speaks to me is from the Alchemist with Santiago's journey. He told him about Fatima and his personal legend. He said if he really trusted her to wait for him to achieve his personal legend, that would be true love as opposed to staying with him. Love is the language of the world, and true love involves trust. It's something that I want to change in my life, and it is something that needs to be a change. That is why I believe everything happens for a reason.
Nick Casablanca
5/16/2013 02:16:08 am
Those are really good points Rob. I do believe in what you're saying web you say that everything happens for a reason. It may be coincidence or luck or both. Still that is a great quote and it reflects on everything that goes on in our lives.
Amanda Donofrio
5/18/2013 02:43:35 am
Rob, I liked how you used different examples to explain your side. "With no failure, you won't appreciate success," Thats one of my favorite mottos to live by!
Haley Krivensky
5/15/2013 02:47:19 pm
I'm not sure if I believe in coincidences or not. It could be fate, but sometimes certain things that happen are just too perfect not to call a coincidence. I do believe, however, that everything happens for a reason. It doesn't have to be a good reason, but there is one. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I think that everything that happens conspires to help you achieve your goal. Probably. Even the bad things could be placed in your path in order for you move in the right direction of your goal. You may not see it, but I assume that it does happen. Whether you believe it's God who's in charge of the coincidences, luck, and events of your life or if you believe it's something/someone else. Maybe you believe that you choose the events for yourself, and create your own path. It really could be interpreted and perceived in many ways.
Dan Mott
5/16/2013 07:14:57 am
I like how you were able to see both sides of the argument. Fate or not, you brought up good points for fate and the other side as well
Zach Antonio
5/16/2013 03:11:45 pm
When you say everything happens for a reason, I don't know if I agree with it. But I do think you shouldn't regret things that have happened to you. Everything that happens to you makes you who you are.
Nick Casablanca
5/16/2013 02:13:05 am
When people want to achieve their goal or personal legend or whatever they want to call it, people will say either it was luck or coincidence. Now I don't want to annoy people anymore than I usually do with hockey but it is the easiest way for me to relate to this. Obviously my dream is to one day play hockey as a job, but to get there coincidence and luck have to be on your side. Somethings in hockey I know can be coincidence but others are luck. When I was younger, I dreamed of playing travel hockey so that I could grow in skill. well that saying "the soul of the world will conspire with you" came into play here as I was offered a spot to be on the travel team. That was definitely a blessing for me as I seized the opportunity. As time went by I started getting connections and the coincidences became more and more relevant as well as luck. Now I have been given the opportunity from all the luck and coincidences in my life to play college hockey. I guess the point I am trying to make is that, like Rob said before, everything happens for a reason and I believe in both coincidence and luck.
Shayne Fitol
5/16/2013 02:13:25 am
I do not really believe in destinies, at least the idea that God creates a path for us all to follow. That idea continues with the concept that we cannot change our future, and that every choice we make was already pre-planned. That idea of destiny is rather disheartening. To believe that humanity's ability to make their own decisions is not even in our own hands is quite depressing. That being said, I do believe that we, as humans, can create our own destinies with the choices that we make. I do not necessarily believe that everything happens for a reason. People can make chance events into meaningful happenings, but that doesn't mean it was pre-planned for a certain reason. People make things meaningful to help themselves along there way to reaching their goals. I do believe in luck, and that some people have good luck while others don't. What people make of luck greatly impacts their destiny, as they can do what they want with it. I would like to think that luck is the universe conspiring to help us along, but this is not that realistic of a concept. It is merely a nice, heart-warning thought.
Christina Buswell
5/16/2013 08:59:40 am
I would have to agree Shayne. I don't like the idea that our lives are pre-planned. I would like to think that the situations we endure, help us to shape our own destinies.
Alex m
5/16/2013 03:04:28 am
I believe that luck and coincidence do play a role in one's destiny. However, I am not saying that the universe will only work with you to achieve your destiny like in the Alchemist. Rather, I believe that the world works for and against you and that everything an individual encounters has an effect on his or her destiny. For example, good luck as well as bad luck can effect or define your destiny. Individuals always have obstacles they need to overcome. And I believe that the bad luck that you are able to overcome plays more of a role in your destiny than good luck given to you. As for coincidence, I feel that all it does is highlight your destiny or basically acts as an omen. No one's destiny is going to be created or accomplished by coincidence. Instead, small coincidences might help guide an individual to his or her final destiny. In the end destiny is determined by how the individual handles the given situation.
Zach Antonio
5/16/2013 03:08:30 am
Luck is everything. If you have luck, your life is set. Is it destiny? I don't know. No one can know. How mystical and religious you are determines how much you believe in destiny. Some people think things just happen. I like to think that it is a mix between fate being on your side, and you shaping your own destiny. I don't know if the universe is working with me, but I feel like it will give me opportunities. I just have to keep an eye out for them. And, hope that luck is on my side.
Michaela
5/16/2013 03:12:44 pm
I think it's very possible for luck to exist without destiny. In fact I don't think the two can coexist. Luck or coincidences would not lead you to a destiny.
Alex m
5/16/2013 03:10:43 am
(response to Jackie's blog, link doesn't work)
Dan Mott
5/16/2013 07:13:21 am
Your life is not predetermined by some higher power whether that be Big Brother or God. The destiny and fate of life, your life all depends on how you live it and the actions you take. If you make poor decisions, you must render the consequences. For example, if you slack in high school and end up working at McDonald's for your career as an ultimate job, nobody is to blame but yourself. Life is one big game, soemtimes you bet big and win big and other times you bet big and have a big let down. On the other hand, things are fate I guess. Lets say your die as a passanger in a car crash. You didnt know they were gonna crash, you didn't know what was going to happen. Everyone just needs to be independent and not rely on anyone else. If you let other people hold you back, thats your fault. Too bad for them, live your life. Social darwinism, at it's finest.
Trevor Haigh
5/17/2013 02:29:40 pm
I agree with you, Dan. The only one controlling your life is your self and your actions define your life. You have the free will to make any decision you want. There is no specific path set for us when we are born.
Kyle Blake
5/16/2013 08:34:23 am
I believe that a person makes their own luck. A person makes their own destiny by the actions they do in their life. If someone needed help and they helped that person they will get someone to help them in the future. Even if it is only helping someone pick something that they dropped on the floor. This also has to do with the concept of karma. If you bully someone, you are likely to get bullied by someone. It may not be right away, but somewhere in the near future someone will bully you. The universe will work with you if you help the universe yourself. There are tons of opportunities everyday to move towards your destiny, you just have to embrace them. All of the events that happen in front of you are meant to happen, it is just what you do with the situations that molds your path in life. I have learned to embrace every opportunity that is available to me. I took four months out of my life to take an EMT class and it totally paid off. Now I can help people when they need someone the most.
Christina Buswell
5/16/2013 08:57:04 am
I have always been a firm believer of "everything happens for a reason". I think it gives us all something to hope for, especially if we are at a low point in life. I do also believe that we have the ability to change our destiny. Which is why when something happens to us, it's a sign helping to guide us to our own personal legend. Say for example, you get into your top college. This is a sign that you are meant to be at this school. Its just a step closer to your goal (whatever your goal may be). Or, say you get rejected from your top school. This is a sign that you weren't meant to be there. That there is something else out there for you and it's up to you to find it. Whether it's a good or bad situation, you can always take away from it. And whatever you take away from it, is just another thing that guides you towards your personal legend. I don't believe in coincidences. Personally, I think that believing in coincidences is a very cynical and optimistic outlook on life. I tend to be very positive and make light of any situation good or bad. Which is why I would say that anything that happens to us, happens for a reason. Whether that reason is known or not, there is a rhyme or reason for everything in life. 5/16/2013 09:30:58 am
In my take of all this, I don't use the words luck, coincidence, or even destiny. God does have a will for all our lives, but it's your choice to be part of it or not. God knows what's going to happen in your life-every single detail. But clearly, you still have the free will to do things. People think God's will constricts the freedom to be yourself. It doesn't. It's hard for me to say these things to people who don't believe what I'm saying is the truth. Recently I heard the saying "No man, woman, child, or thing can remove you from God's will except yourself." Your life does come down to choices, and there are consequences for everyone's actions. It's your own personal choices that lead you places, but God uses the consequences of our choices to bring about His will. You can tell you are living in God's will by the blessings that come from the resulting outcome. I know probably none of you will understand or even try to comprehend this, but it's what I put faith in. The way I think of it is we have freewill and choices in the moment, that can either keep us in God's will or remove us from it.
Kristina Lacasse
5/16/2013 11:07:47 am
The idea of luck and coincidence suggest that destiny is random. I believe that these are not planned events created by nature. Everything happens for a reason, not because God makes it so, but rather because you are the product of your own actions. Yes, coincidences happen. However, these events are funny incidences and occur because they just happen occur.
Lauren Barry
5/17/2013 08:28:19 am
Kristina, I really enjoyed your point that we are the products of our own actions. It made me rethink my answer!
Katheryn Byrnes
5/16/2013 12:05:08 pm
Luck and coincidence help people work toward your destiny because they both help you achieve your goals. Luck and coincidence allows for someone to feel like they are on their right path. It works together to allow for people to follow their hearts and dreams. In the book he is finding his personal legend and the universe in helping him. The universe helps people achieve their goals if they only listen and pay attention. In the book he learns how to focus on what he wants without having losing the lessons he loses along the way.
Kaitlyn C
5/16/2013 12:23:12 pm
I don’t believe in destiny. I think that people who do achieve their goals will often ascribe meaning to random coincidences. That can be something little like believing you have a good luck charm, or something much bigger like what the main character in The Alchemist does, as he believes many things are omens, and the Universe has some set plan for him that it wants him to follow and is even helping him with.
Maria Castelot
5/16/2013 12:24:50 pm
So many peoples' motto's nowadays is "everything happens for a reason." However, I do not agree with that phrase at all. I think everything is pure coincidence and all the things that happen to people is just life constantly moving forward. Many people use "everything happens for a reason" as an excuse for their failures/achievements or because of other reasons. What people need to realize is that, for instance, they didn't fail the college entry exam because they were meant to go their dream school. They didn't fail their exam because they studies hard because they want to go to their dream school. What I'm trying to say is that things don't just happen to people. Things happen because people who are truly passionate about something make their dream come true.
Camille Glasow
5/18/2013 03:58:25 pm
I agree with what you said about, sometimes it's just life constantly moving forward. I am not a firm believer in that EVERYTHING happens for a reason, and I also don't think luck is a strong influence either. I think it's more up to the individual to determine their fate.
Richard Katrenya
5/16/2013 02:46:36 pm
I honestly don't believe in destiny, but rather I believe in the fact that we can be whatever we put our minds to as long as you put in time and effort.
Victoria Marino
5/16/2013 03:51:08 pm
I do believe in destiny and luck. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Although many people believe that ones actions will cause what happens to them in the future, I believe other wise. I have had some unfortunate things happen to me in my life without any explanation as to why they have happened. I had a hard time getting through them and it was even harder knowing that I didn't have an answer to why such a horrible thing had happened to me. My mom always told me that "everything happens for a reason" and now I truly believe that. I lost a very important person in my life and although I don't know why, I believe that it really was destiny. I believe God has a plan for us all and in the case of achieving your goals. I believe that if you're meant to do something, you will accomplish it. You have to work hard and not give up, but you will accomplish it due to destiny. We have a path already planned out for us.
Kelly L
5/17/2013 02:08:17 am
I believe that luck and coincidence go hand in hand with each other. No person has control over luck or coincidence; it is out of our hands. Of course some may have better luck than others but that is just what life has handed us. I do believe in destiny and I believe that what is meant to happen with our lives will happen and everything that does happen is for a reason. For example, some people in life have terrible luck but maybe it was supposed to be that way, maybe that person will come out of their struggles a stronger person than they ever have been before, and people that have gotten things easy in life will never get to experience the simple joys like buying something they have worked hard for. I believe that all things in life are planned out for each and every one of us and things that happen out of luck or coincidence are just a part of that plan.
Amber Murray
5/17/2013 03:35:06 am
Luck and coincidence are concepts that you encounter unexpectedly, luck is an unplanned experience, not one that you chose, therefore it has the power to change the course of events. The change that luck best shows can sometimes be significant or minor. Coincidence is also an unplanned experience. Philosophically it almost seems as if the universe is causing this unexplainable luck or coincidence; and your destiny is beyond your own control. These concepts are occurrences that propel you in other directions & move you along. Luck and coincidence are hidden tools that provide guidance in new direction. The destination; your destiny, is unknown. These concepts spring you back onto the 'right' path, one that you don't even know you're on. Luck and coincidence are have the ability to alter your knowledge basis, your decision making, and can impact your personality and life. a little extra money, a strange encounter can change potentially effect you're entire life schedule.
Amber Murray
5/17/2013 03:46:34 am
I couldn't have said it any better myself, I don't think we choose out destiny but that everything that happens, happens for a reason. The sad things in our life are horrible, but we always get past it so it should instead make us stronger as a person.
Meredith Folsom
5/17/2013 04:38:31 am
I believe that some things happen for a reason which is why I believe in luck. However, I don’t believe that we have a pre-made life plan that we are supposed to follow. But, there are definitely instances where one door closes and two doors open up. I’m not very religious by any means but I’d like to think that the universe is helping me out. I’ve had many occasions where I feel like it is just meant to be and that’s how it is supposed to be. For example, when we watched the video about the tumbleweed, I believe the earth and the rain worked together so that tumbleweed could reincarnate. It’s hard to believe that was just a coincidence because so many things had to be aligned for that reincarnation to occur. However, I also believe that you are in control of your own destiny. You can’t use unluckiness as a crutch. You can control how most things turn out, but sometimes I think everyone gets a little help from the universe,
Alyssa Ferreone
5/17/2013 05:57:04 am
I do not believe in luck, chance, or coincidence at all. I know that God has a plan for everything and everyone and everything happens for a reason. Proverbs 16:33 says "We may roll the dice, But the Lord determines how they fall." I don't know what other proof you need than this.. Everyone has free will but ultimately the risks and chances you take will all be controlled by God. It is also true that Luck is derived from the word Lucifer (Satan's Proper name) and both have a negative connotation. From a young age my parents have always told me to never say the word luck nor believe in it but say instead something like "best wishes". I think everyone has the freedom to chose what you want to do in life but sometimes God intervenes and you cannot ignore it. God's plan for everyone includes their personal legends. If you choose to listen to His will then your personal legends will be revealed to you. Overall I do not believe in luck or the "power of the universe"... It's just God.
Lauren Barry
5/17/2013 06:44:21 am
Your opinion of how one’s destiny is created greatly depends on what you chose to believe and have faith in. I have never been whole heartedly set on any type of opinion of destiny or fate; I generally just take things for what they are and move on from it. Thinking about it now I realize what a hard question it really is. Are things planned out for us, or do they happen to us by chance? My opinion after thinking about it for a few minutes, I have to believe that our lives are already planned out. I have no idea how or by what, but I do think that we have our futures planned out for us. This ultimately comes down to the second part of the prompt: is the universe working with us to achieve our personal legend? Ultimately, I have to say yes again. Because I believe that things are planned out for us yet I’m not sure what, I think that the environment in which we find ourselves in is generally shaping what we experience. It may seem farfetched, but I guess what I’m saying is that our futures are planned out by the things around us; both living and nonliving.
Christina M
5/17/2013 12:24:26 pm
I truly believe that everyone has a predetermined path in life, their destiny. Some people really do have luck on their side when following their life path or as the Alchemist says, their personal legend. Face it, there is always that one kid in school who excels without working nearly as hard as everyone else and we think "he/she is so lucky". Just because this person excels in school does not mean he/she is just as successful when it comes to other things in life. That person might be dealing with obstacles outside of school such as family issues. Each one of us have different and equally challenging obstacles that we overcome throughout our lives. With every obstacle that we face comes a life long lesson that will carry over to our outlook on life and achieving our goals. You do not necessarily need luck on your side, however it would be nice. I am a firm believer in the saying "everything happens for a reason." I think it is impossible to run from your fate.
Trevor Haigh
5/17/2013 02:27:44 pm
I personally do not believe in destiny or fate or that our lives are predetermined. I think that every single one of our actions has consequences and that we also have the free will to choose whatever path we please. There is no supernatural force controlling what happens in our lives.
Bridget Borowy
5/17/2013 04:24:21 pm
Its hard to believe that the universe would be connected to us or try to help us out in any way. We're all so small, and often we feel insignificant. But I do believe that everything happens for a reason, and that everyone does have the potential to lead and to grow into someone who would be beneficial to this world. Many people are lazy, however, and fail to work towards anything important to them or anything that could benefit the world. These are the people who are too immersed with themselves and other things, the people who can't read the "omens" that are pushing them toward their destiny. I think that luck and coincedence happen for a reason. Sometimes its an easy way out to whatever obstical may be in our way. But ultimately it helps us out to whatever it is that we're doing. Its similar when its bad luck; in the end, it turns out being something we can learn from and prevent from happening again. All things have a deeper meaning, when given the time to look into. Tbe world has seemed to work in favor in the long run for most of its creatures and plants, and its the same for humans. It may not be an adaptation to environment, or a special skill that helps us catch our prey to survive, but theres something bigger out there that is hard to understand and that helps us toward reaching our personal legends.
Camille Glasow
5/18/2013 04:09:24 pm
I am a believer in that a person's destiny is affected by the universe working with them towards their goal. I do not simply think that a person's fate is determined by chance events or luck. There has to be a higher power to sustain harmony in the world. However, I am not saying that everything happens for a reason or that the universe has predetermined your life. I think that if a person has a dream, it's up to them to pursue it but if it's meant to be, it will work out. People cannot wait for an opportunity to pop up out of thin air; they have to chase after it. That said, you also can't rely on luck to get you through life because you have to be proactive and work towards a goal. So what I'm saying is that you need to actively follow your dreams. Move forward and get a head start, and THEN turn towards a higher power or perhaps you'll get "lucky" and become a success in whatever dream you're chasing. Comments are closed.
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English 12 HonorsRespond to the question AND comment on another classmate's response in at least 10 sentences. You can certainly disagree, but BE RESPECTFUL of the opinions/feelings of your classmates. Archives
June 2013
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